The blacksmith of Cinq-Cygne and his assistant had been summoned by Lechesneau as experts. While the operation at the stable was going on the justice of peace brought in Gothard and Michu. The work of detaching the shoes of each horse, putting them together and ticketing them, so as to compare them with the hoof-prints in the park, took time. Lechesneau, notified of the arrival of Pigoult, left the prisoners with the gendarmes and returned to the dining-room to dictate the indictment. The justice of peace called his attention to the condition of Michu’s clothes and related the circumstances of his arrest.
“They must have killed the senator and plastered the body up in some wall,” said Pigoult.
“I begin to fear it,” answered Lechesneau. “Where did you carry that plaster?” he said to Gothard.
The boy began to cry.
“The law frightens him,” said Michu, whose eyes were darting flames like those of a lion in the toils.
The servants, who had been detained at the village by order of the mayor, now arrived and filled the antechamber where Catherine and Gothard were weeping. To all the questions of the director of the jury and the justice of peace Gothard replied by sobs; and by dint of weeping he brought on a species of convulsion which alarmed them so much that they let him alone. The little scamp, perceiving that he was no longer watched, looked at Michu with a grin, and Michu signified his approval by a glance. Lechesneau left the justice of peace and returned to the stables.
“Monsieur,” said Madame d’Hauteserre, at last, addressing Pigoult; “can you explain these arrests?”
“The gentlemen are accused of abducting the senator by armed force and keeping him a prisoner; for we do not think they have murdered him—in spite of appearances,” replied Pigoult.
“What penalties are attached to the crime?” asked Monsieur d’Hauteserre.
“Well, as the old law continues in force, and they are not amenable under the Code, the penalty is death,” replied the justice.